Chapter 72: Mouthpiece

Early the next morning.

Meng Shi brought Yu'an into the city, accompanied by Cheng Qiuluo and Cheng Chengxuan, who was wearing a mask.

Once inside the city, through Zaituan's perspective, An Luo once again saw the scene within Beihuang City.

In just one short month, it was completely different from before.

The streets on both sides were much cleaner, and the faces of the people were no longer numb and dull, but full of energy instead.

"Hurry, hurry! The weaving workshop is recruiting workers again, and the City Guard Bureau is taking registrations!"

After this shout, a large crowd swarmed toward the City Guard Bureau.

Seeing this scene, Meng Shi sighed with emotion.

"It really is completely different."

On the road, two women carrying baskets passed by, chatting and laughing.

"I heard that Lord Chen specifically instructed that every female worker in our workshop can buy two knitted sweaters at the lowest price, so we can get through the winter properly."

"I also heard that it's one tael of silver per piece, but apparently if sold, it would be ten taels of silver per piece."

"I've already bought one. Wearing it, it's truly incredibly warm. Lord Chen is really amazing — who would have thought up such a good thing as knitted sweaters!"

The other woman said indignantly.

"That dog Emperor is truly blind, to send Lord Chen to guard a desolate place like Beihuang City."

"Isn't that the truth?"

"But thankfully Lord Chen is in Beihuang City, otherwise how could such good fortune have fallen on us?"

……

Hearing the two women's words, Cheng Qiuluo couldn't hold back and lifted her leg, wanting to chase after them and have a word.

"Qiuluo!"

Meng Shi held her back and shook her head at her.

Cheng Qiuluo's face was full of indignation.

"Auntie, the knitted sweaters were clearly taught to us by the Immortal, so how did it become the Chen father and son's achievement in their mouths?"

"Now they've become the great good people everyone praises, and have gained plenty of reputation!"

She turned her head to the side and said huffily.

"I can't stand it!"

Meng Shi patted her hand.

"Alright, now that kind of reputation is actually a burden for us. The Chen Family hasn't shorted us our share of silver either."

She leaned closer and whispered in Qiuluo's ear.

"Isn't making money quietly pretty good too?"

Qiuluo pouted, her face full of reluctance.

"So we're just going to let it go? If we add the matter of coal, aren't we just giving the Chen Family all our reputation for nothing?"

Meng Shi revealed a meaningful smile.

"Let's go take care of the main business first."

Qiuluo's words did remind An Luo. She opened Zaituan's backend and saw the Reputation Points on it, her eyes widening in surprise.

Ten thousand?!

How did it increase so much?

She poked the customer service.

Customer Service: The data is correct, dear. These ten thousand Reputation Points are the feedback from the knitted sweaters.

Knitted sweaters?

So even if others don't know the knitted sweaters came from Yu'an, the Reputation Points will still be counted on Zaituan in the end?

While An Luo was pondering, the Cheng Family's Horse Carriage stopped outside a small courtyard.

Meng Shi had just gotten off the Horse Carriage holding Yu'an when Gu Shang came out of the house to open the door for them.

"Please come in, everyone."

Meng Shi looked at Yuanchen Daozhang behind him and lowered her head slightly in greeting.

"Yuanchen Daozhang, has your health been better lately?"

Yuanchen Daozhang stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

"Thank you for your concern, Lady Da. The Yao from before worked very well; this old Daoist recovered long ago."

Then he extended his hand.

"Please sit down, everyone."

Meng Shi sat down holding Yu'an, and Yuanchen Daozhang looked at the little fellow in her arms with an excited face.

Last time they met, this little child didn't have so much golden light of merit on him.

But in just one short month, this golden light could blind one's eyes!

Sensing the Old Master's burning gaze, Yu'an squirmed his little body uncomfortably a few times.

Why does the Old Master keep staring at him?

Noticing his little fidgeting, Meng Shi handed him to Qiuluo and asked her to take the little fellow to play in the courtyard.

Then she looked at Yuanchen.

"The reason for disturbing you today is to ask the Daoist Priest to resolve some doubts."

"Previously, the Daoist Priest had your disciple pass on a message saying this winter would not be peaceful. What exactly did you mean?"

Yuanchen Daozhang smiled mysteriously.

"Doesn't Lady Da already have the answer in her heart?"

"In that case, we won't disturb you any longer."

Meng Shi left behind some of the herbs she had brought, then took the children to the Chen Family.

……

City Lord's Manor.

"Yu'an!"

The moment Yi Jiang heard Yu'an had arrived, he rushed out.

"Why haven't you come to play with me for so long?"

Yu'an handed him a few small parcels in his hands.

They were snacks like candy and nuts, with the packaging removed and inspected by the Ancestors, so they didn't look conspicuous when taken out.

"Didn't I come now?"

Yi Jiang hugged the Inventory, his little nose twitching.

"I can smell it — it's something tasty, right?"

Handing the Inventory to a servant, Yi Jiang grabbed Yu'an and ran inside.

"Come on, let's go inside and eat the good stuff!"

After the two little ones left, the adults began to discuss serious matters.

"Lady Da has come today — is there some important matter?"

Meng Shi spoke with a faint smile.

"The moment I entered the city today, I found that today's Beihuang City is vastly different from before. Lord Chen truly governs with great skill."

Chen Delin smiled and waved his hand.

"Not at all, not at all. When people have something to hope for, their spirit naturally changes. Speaking of which, we actually owe it all to the Old Madam's sweaters she gave us."

Qiuluo snorted, smiling without warmth.

"Indeed, we heard the citizens of this city praising Lord Chen the whole way here, grateful for Lord Chen's grace — it truly never stopped ringing in our ears."

Hearing this, the expressions of the Chen Family father and son shifted slightly.

Cheng Chengxuan glanced at his aunt, who still wore a faint smile, narrowed his eyes slightly, then turned to Qiuluo in a joking tone.

"Speaking of which, we should also thank Lord Chen. If the Chen Family hadn't stepped out to shield us, we probably wouldn't have any peace today."

You can have both reputation and silver, but be clear about who gave you all of this.

Meng Shi set down her tea cup.

"Alright, let's get to the serious matter."

She looked at the Chen Family father and son.

"These past few days I've often had nightmares, frequently dreaming of snow filling the sky. So today I came into the city specifically to seek guidance from Daoist Priest Yuanchen."

"The Daoist Priest said this might be a sign — this year there may be a snow disaster."

"A snow disaster?!"

The Chen Family father and son were greatly shocked.

It's better to believe it exists than not, especially since Daoist Priest Yuanchen is well-versed in divination and observing celestial phenomena.

Cheng Chengxuan took out a box.

"Yesterday I took Yu'an up the Mountain to play. While roasting wild game, Yu'an accidentally tossed this kind of black stone into the fire. Miraculously, the stone could actually burn — and lasted longer than ordinary wood."

"Is this true?!"

Chen Ying took the box, his gaze burning as he stared at the black stone inside, asking impatiently.

"Where exactly did you find this kind of stone?"

"How much is there?"

"Cough cough!"

His own father's cough interrupted him. Chen Ying restrained his excitement, composed his expression, and set the box on the table.

"If we can mine this coal as soon as possible, then when the snow disaster comes, the people of Beihuang City and the surrounding counties should have an easier winter."

Meng Shi and Cheng Chengxuan smiled faintly without speaking.

Cheng Qiuluo stood up from her chair.

"If Lord Chen truly thinks this way, it is naturally a blessing for the people within Beihuang City's borders."

You want benefits and reputation, fine — but good deeds should be done a few more times, shouldn't they?

Meng Shi picked up her tea cup and took a sip, hiding the smile at the corner of her mouth.

Usually she felt that Qiuluo, that Yao Tou, spoke bluntly and often said uncomfortable truths carelessly, easily hurting people.

But right now she felt that watching her take people on was rather satisfying.

After that, no one spoke again.

Meng Shi and Cheng Chengxuan didn't speak because they had Qiuluo as their mouth-piece, saying what they wanted to say.

Qiuluo didn't speak further because she thought she'd made her point.

As for the Chen Family father and son, they didn't know what to say — now it seemed whatever they said would be wrong.

The Study suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

Suddenly, the butler's urgent voice came from outside the door.

"Old Master, sir, bad news — the Young Master is throwing a fit again!"